Housing and Community Development Network Lauds Advancement of
Affordable Housing Reform Legislation

TRENTON – The Assembly Housing Committee voted to advance legislation that would reform fair housing obligations in New Jersey. The following is a statement based on testimony delivered during the hearing by Staci Berger, president and chief executive officer of the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey (the Network):

“We strongly support the reforms to fair housing obligations currently under consideration in the Legislature and applaud the Committee’s actions today. Our organization is the statewide association of over 270 non-profit, community development organizations, private sector lenders and housing champions who have been working together for 35 years to make sure everyone can afford to call NJ home. This bill will allow us to continue doing what we do best – building affordable homes to address the critical housing shortage facing NJ’s families, because we believe housing is a human right.

“One contributing factor to our severe shortage of affordable homes has been the delay tactics employed by recalcitrant public officials to prevent the creation of homes people need to keep their communities exclusive. Yet, it is our moral and legal obligation to do exactly that, to build homes in every community because people in NJ, whether they are from here or come here, deserve to live in a safe, stable and affordable home.

“Research shows that housing stability and security leads to prosperity and generational wealth. Over 270 Network members choose to work together across the state to deliver this kind of generational success and stability to tens of thousands of families. We know what it takes to solve the housing crisis, and we know that this bill will help move us forward to do just that. We look forward to the Legislature passing this bill and the governor signing it, so that we can quickly move ahead to create these affordable homes. Together, we can, we must and we will House New Jersey.”

Joining Berger today in submitting statements of support include the following members of the Network’s Board of Directors: Edward Bethea, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Gateway Community Action Partnership and chair of the Network board of directors; Pilar Hogan Closkey, executive director, Saint Joseph Carpenter Society and vice chair of the Network board of directors; Dan Antonellis, president, Region Nine Housing Corporation and treasurer of the Network board of directors; Anthony Smith, executive director, Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District; Scott Millard, chief executive officer, Passaic Habitat for Humanity; Bridget Phifer, executive director, Parkside Business and Community in Partnership; Randi Moore, chief operating officer, Affordable Housing Alliance; Taiisa Kelly, chief executive officer, Monarch Housing Associates; John Keller, director of education and outreach, coLAB Arts; and Mark Valli, chief executive officer, Norwescap. Other Network members submitting statements of support include: Roseann Mazzeo, executive director, WomenRising; Edward Truscelli, executive director, Princeton Community Housing; Tracy Rogers, member, Monmouth County Advocacy Team; Vito Gallo, member, Union County Advocacy Team; Liz DeCoursey, chief executive officer, Morris Habitat for Humanity; Beverly Brown Ruggia, Financial Justice Program Director, New Jersey Citizen Action; and Calandria Ortiz-Resende, Policy Coordinator, New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence.

About the Housing and Community Development Network of NJ
The Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey is the statewide association of more than 270 community development corporations, individuals and other organizations that support the creation of affordable homes, economic opportunities, and strong communities. For more information on the Network, visit www.hcdnnj.org.